Baking oven having a circulating air unit

ABSTRACT

Baking oven for preparing food, comprising a housing in which a baking chamber is provided, a first heating device which is provided in the upper area of the baking chamber, a second heating device which is provided in a lower area of the baking chamber and a circulating air unit. The circulating air unit is provided on a first side wall of the baking chamber, and a fan motor of the circulating air unit is integrated into a side area of the housing, which is located behind a control unit of the oven.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to German Utility Model Application Number DE202021105991.5, filed Nov. 3, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD

The innovation relates to a baking oven having a circulating air unit.

BACKGROUND

Baking ovens per se are known. In particular, baking ovens are known that are used in particular for preparing convenience food, i.e., for example, ready-to-prepare food, such as frozen ready-to-eat meals, in particular pizzas and baguette sandwiches. Baking ovens of this type are used, for example, in the fast-food catering trade.

The problem with known baking ovens is that they often only have an uneven distribution of heat in the baking chamber, which often results in uneven heating of the food. As a result, the food to be heated often has an uneven degree of browning, which is undesirable.

Based on this, the object of the innovation is to provide a baking oven that allows improved heating of food despite its compact design

SUMMARY

This object is achieved by a baking oven according to described embodiments.

The present disclosure relates to a baking oven. The baking oven is in particular a compact baking oven having a height that is smaller than the width of the baking oven. In particular, the baking oven is designed as a free-standing baking oven, i.e. the baking oven has a housing which is not intended for installation in a piece of furniture, in particular a kitchen cabinet. The housing can be a stainless steel housing, for example.

A baking chamber is provided in the housing of the baking oven. The baking oven has a first heating device, which is provided in the upper region of the baking oven and is used to supply top heat to the food to be prepared. In addition, the baking oven has a second heating device which is arranged in the lower region of the baking oven and is used to supply bottom heat to the food to be prepared. Furthermore, a circulating air unit is provided. The circulating air unit is arranged at a side wall of the baking chamber. The fan motor is integrated into a side region of the housing of the baking oven laterally next to the baking chamber, the side region being located behind a control unit of the baking oven.

The advantage of the baking oven is that a compact baking oven is created which, despite a limited installation space, in particular an installation space limited in the depth direction, has a circulating air function and thereby allows a more uniform heat distribution in the baking chamber, which leads to better preparation results.

According to an exemplary embodiment, an intake opening and an exhaust opening of the circulating air unit are provided in the first side wall of the baking chamber. Therefore, air flows through the baking chamber from only one side of the baking chamber, which results in a more compact design.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the intake opening and the exhaust opening are arranged offset from one another in the depth direction of the baking chamber. This allows the circulating air unit e.g. to draw in air in a rear region of the side wall and discharge it in a front region of the side wall. As a result, a flow of air through the baking chamber is achieved, which leads to an improved temperature distribution.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the intake opening is arranged deeper in the baking chamber than the exhaust opening. In an alternative embodiment, the exhaust opening can also be arranged deeper in the baking chamber than the intake opening.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the circulating air unit comprises a flow channel and a fan wheel driven by the fan motor, the fan wheel being provided in the flow channel. This creates a locally limited space in which the fan wheel is arranged, which contributes to a high efficiency of the circulating air unit.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the flow channel extends with its longitudinal extension in the depth direction of the baking chamber. In this way, a channel is created which connects the intake opening with the exhaust opening spaced in the depth direction. This in turn increases the efficiency of the circulating air unit.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the circulating air unit has a fan wheel that is designed for the radial intake and the axial exhaust of the air. It is thus possible to place the fan wheel in the region of the exhaust opening and to supply the air radially from the intake opening, despite the offset arrangement of the suction opening relative to the exhaust opening in the depth direction of the baking chamber.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the circulating air unit has an intermediate wall, a circumferential wall portion projecting from the intermediate wall, by means of which the flow channel is delimited in the radial direction. Due to the intermediate wall it is possible to form a thermal barrier between the fan motor and the baking chamber, which barrier, on the one hand, delimits the flow channel and, on the other hand, restricts the heat input into the fan motor.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the intermediate wall is attached to the first side wall of the baking chamber in such a way that the intermediate wall with the circumferential wall portion and the first side wall of the baking chamber form the flow channel. Thus, the interaction of the intermediate wall with the side wall of the baking chamber leads to an at least substantially closed flow channel which allows the air moved by the fan wheel to flow effectively through the baking chamber.

According to one exemplary embodiment, a layer of insulating material is provided between the first side wall of the baking chamber and the intermediate wall. This can confine the heat transfer in the direction of the fan motor.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the circulating air unit has a support wall to which the fan motor is attached. The support wall preferably extends over the entire height and depth of the baking oven. It is preferably connected directly to the housing of the baking oven in order to fix the fan motor in a stable manner. In addition, by fixing the fan motor to the support wall instead of the intermediate wall, the heat input to the fan motor can be reduced.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the support wall is provided on the side of the intermediate wall facing away from the baking chamber. The intermediate wall is arranged at a distance from the support wall and fixed thereto. This sandwich-like design of the circulating air unit can reduce the heat input into the fan motor and also into the housing wall.

According to one exemplary embodiment, a layer of insulating material is provided between the support wall and the intermediate wall. Thus, the heat loss from the baking chamber and the heat input into the fan motor can be further reduced.

According to one exemplary embodiment, a circulating air control unit is provided to control the circulating air function of the baking oven. The circulating air control unit has a separate control board arranged separately from a main control board that performs the control of the other baking oven functions. This creates a modular design so that retrofitting of baking ovens with the circulating air unit is also possible.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the baking chamber accommodates a temperature sensor which is provided on a second side wall of the baking chamber that is opposite the circulating air unit. As a result, the temperature can be measured on the side opposite the circulating air unit, which allows for an improved temperature control of the baking oven.

In the present disclosure, the expressions “approximately”, “substantially” or “about” refer to deviations from the respective exact value by +/- 10%, preferably by +/- 5% and/or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant for the function.

Further developments, advantages and possible applications of the innovation are also apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the drawings. In this connection, all the features described and/or illustrated are in principle the subject matter of the innovation, either individually or in any combination, irrespective of their summary in the claims or their back-reference. Also, the content of the claims is made a part of the description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The innovation is explained in more detail below with reference to drawings of exemplary embodiments. In these drawings:

FIG. 1 shows by way of example an exemplary embodiment of a baking oven according to the innovation with opened baking chamber in a first perspective view;

FIG. 2 shows by way of example an exemplary embodiment of a baking oven according to the innovation with an open baking chamber in a second perspective view;

FIG. 3 shows by way of example the circulating air unit of the baking oven in a first perspective exploded view;

FIG. 4 shows by way of example the circulating air unit of the baking oven in a second perspective exploded view;

FIG. 5 shows by way of example the circulating air unit of the baking oven in the assembled state in a first perspective view;

FIG. 6 shows by way of example the circulating air unit of the baking oven in the assembled state in a second perspective view; and

FIG. 7 shows by way of example an exemplary embodiment of a baking oven according to the innovation with partially opened housing in a top perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a baking oven 1 according to the innovation in different perspective views. The baking oven 1 is designed as a free-standing appliance and is, in particular, a compact baking oven which is designed for heating convenience food, i.e., for example, ready-to-prepare food, such as frozen ready-to-eat meals, etc., in restaurants or the fast food or snack catering trade. In particular, the baking oven 1 is designed to bake frozen pizzas or frozen baguettes.

The baking oven 1 has a housing 2, which comprises an opening for a baking chamber 3 on the front side. The baking chamber can be loaded with the food to be prepared via the opening. In particular, the baking oven need not have a door that swings open but instead a push-in unit 1.2 can be provided (see FIG. 7 ), which has a closing cover and a support surface or a grate for the food to be prepared. The closing cover is designed to close the opening of the baking chamber 3 after the insertion of the push-in unit 1.2 into the baking chamber 3. A handle can also be provided on the closing cover of the push-in unit 1.2, via which the push-in unit 1.2 can be pulled out of the baking chamber 3 and by means of which the push-in unit 1.2 can be lifted and transported after being pulled out of the baking chamber. The handle can be designed, for example, as a stick-like handle that protrudes vertically from the closing cover. The handle can be fixed in releasable fashion to the closing cover by means of a quick-connect mechanism.

The baking oven 1 also has a control unit 1.1 by means of which baking programs of the oven can be selected. In particular, the baking oven 1 has pre-programmed programs for the preparation of pizzas and baguettes. The control unit 1.1 is here designed in such a way that the baking function can be activated by pressing a key or a key combination so as to greatly simplify the operation. Once the predefined program has been selected and started, it is completed automatically, i.e. the operator has no influence on the control of heating devices and/or the circulating air unit. Furthermore, the temperature selection and temperature control of the baking oven 1 is preferably fully automatic without any influence of the operator.

The baking oven 1 has a first heating device 4 and a second heating device 5, by means of which the baking chamber 3 is heated. The first and second heating devices 4, 5 can in particular be resistance heaters, in particular heating coils.

In addition, the baking oven 1 has a circulating air unit 6, by means of which an air circulation can be generated in the baking chamber 3. The circulating air unit 6 is provided on the first side wall 3.1 of the baking chamber 3, which laterally delimits the baking chamber 3. In particular, the circulating air unit 6 is provided on the outside of the first side wall 3.1 in such a way that the fan motor 6.1 and the circulating air control unit 6.10 of the circulating air unit 6 are accommodated in a side region 2.1 of the housing 2 of the baking oven 1, which is located behind the control unit 1.1.

The structure of the circulating air unit 6 is described in more detail below. An intake opening 6.2 and an exhaust opening 6.3 are provided on the first side wall 3.1 of the baking chamber 3. The intake opening 6.2 and the exhaust opening 6.3 are spaced from one another in the depth direction TR of the baking chamber 3, for example in such a way that the intake opening 6.2 is located in a rear region of the side wall 3.1 and the exhaust opening 6.3 is located in a front region of the side wall 3.1. As a result, the exhaust opening 6.3 is provided closer to the opening of the baking chamber 3 than the intake opening 6.2. In principle, an inverse arrangement of the intake opening 6.2 and the exhaust opening 6.3 is also conceivable. The exhaust opening 6.3 is preferably provided in the region, in particular in the direction of flow of the air in front of a fan wheel 6.1.1, which is driven by the fan motor 6.1 and which is used to generate the air flow through the baking chamber 3.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show exploded views of the circulating air unit 6 from different perspectives. As previously explained, the circulating air unit 6 is directly adjacent to the first side wall 3.1 at the rear side. It comprises a first insulating material layer 6.7, an intermediate wall 6.5, a second insulating material layer 6.9, a support wall 6.8 and a fan motor 6.1.

The first insulating material layer 6.7 is provided at the rear side of the first side wall 3.1. The first insulating material layer 6.7 is directly adjoined by the intermediate wall 6.5, which is arranged parallel to the first side wall 3.1 in the assembled state. The intermediate wall 6.5 has a wall portion 6.6, which is preferably of closed circumferential design. The wall portion 6.6 can, for example, consist of a flat material bent or folded several times, which is welded onto the intermediate wall 6.5.

The insulating material layer 6.7 has a cutout which is adapted to the circumferential contour of the wall portion 6.6 so that when the wall portion 6.6 and the insulating material layer 6.7 are joined congruently, the wall portion 6.6 extends through the cutout of the insulating material layer 6.7. This allows the wall portion 6.6 to be positioned on the first side wall 3.1 in such a way that the wall portion 6.6 rests against the outside of the first side wall 3.1 with its free-end edge facing away from the intermediate wall 6.5. As a result, the intermediate wall 6.5, the wall portion 6.6 and the first side wall 3.1 define a flow channel 6.4, in which the fan wheel 6.1.1 is provided and through which the air flow can be moved in a directed manner by means of the fan wheel 6.1.1.

The fan wheel 6.1.1 is here designed to draw in the air laterally from the intake opening 6.2 and to blow it out through the exhaust opening 6.3.

A support wall 6.8 is provided to support the fan motor 6.1. In the assembled state, the support wall 6.8 is aligned parallel to the intermediate wall 6.5 and to the first side wall 3.1. Preferably, the support wall 6.8 is formed by a metal sheet piece which is folded at the edges and has a size such that it extends along the entire depth and the entire height of the interior of the housing 2 and can be fixed on the outside relative to the housing wall.

Preferably, the intermediate wall 6.5 is not itself directly fixed to the housing 2 of the baking oven 1, but is held by means of the support wall 6.8. For example, press-in sleeves 6.5.1 can be provided on the intermediate wall 6.5, each of which has an internal thread. The support wall 6.8 has a plurality of bores, each of which coincides with a correspondingly positioned press-in sleeve of the intermediate wall 6.5 when the circulating air unit 6 is assembled so that the support wall 6.8 can be screwed to the intermediate wall 6.5 through the bores.

For thermal shielding of the fan motor 6.1, a second insulating material layer 6.9 is preferably provided between the intermediate wall 6.5 and the support wall 6.8.

A connection portion for the fan motor 6.1 is provided at the rear side of the support wall 6.8. The fan motor 6.1 is flange-mounted there, for example. The shaft of the fan motor 6.1 extends through the support wall 6.8, the second insulating material layer 6.9 and the intermediate wall 6.5 into the flow channel 6.4 so that the fan wheel 6.1.1 can be fixed on the shaft. Preferably, the fan motor 6.1 has a further fan wheel 6.1.2 which provides cooling of the fan motor itself. The further fan wheel 6.1.2 is, for example, plugged onto the shaft of the fan motor 6.1 and is preferably located between the support wall 6.8 and the fan motor 6.1 itself. When the shaft rotates, the fan wheel 6.1.2 generates an air flow away from the baking chamber 3 across the fan motor 6.1 in order to cool it.

As can be seen in particular in FIG. 6 , the circulating air unit 6 has a circuit board forming the circulating air control unit 6.10. The circulating air control unit 6.10 implements functions required to control and operate the fan motor 6.1. The circulating air control unit 6.10 can be connected to a main control board of the baking oven 1 by means of spacers, for example, and can be electrically coupled to the main control board via a cable connection.

A temperature sensor, by means of which the temperature in the baking chamber 3 can be measured, is provided in a second side wall 3.2 opposite the first side wall 3.1 and thus on the side of the baking chamber 3 opposite the circulating air unit 6. The temperature information determined by the temperature sensor is used to control the baking oven 1 in order to obtain a predefined temperature curve for the respective selected program.

As mentioned above, once a predefined program is selected and started, this program is automatically completed, so that the operator has no influence on the control of heating devices and/or the circulating air unit. In particular, the circulating air unit does not run permanently but is switched on or off under program control. Thus, the user has no influence on whether the circulating air unit is activated or not.

The innovation has been described above by means of exemplary embodiments. It is understood that numerous modifications as well as variations are possible without abandoning the concept underlying the innovation.

List of reference signs 1 baking oven 1.1 control unit 1.2 push-in unit 2 housing 2.1 side region 3 baking chamber 3.1 first side wall 3.2 second side wall 4 first heating device 5 second heating device 6 circulating air unit 6.1 fan motor 6.1.1 fan wheel 6.1.2 fan wheel 6.2 intake opening 6.3 exhaust opening 6.4 flow channel 6.5 intermediate wall 6.5.1 press-in sleeve 6.6 circumferential wall portion 6.7 insulating material layer 6.8 support wall 6.9 insulating material layer 6.10 circulating air control unit TR depth direction 

1. Baking oven for preparing food, comprising a housing in which a baking chamber is provided, a first heating device, which is provided in the upper region of the baking chamber, a second heating device, which is provided in the lower region of the baking chamber, and a circulating air unit, wherein the circulating air unit is provided at a first side wall of the baking chamber, and wherein a fan motor of the circulating air unit is integrated into a side region of the housing, which is located behind an operating unit of the baking oven.
 2. Baking oven according to claim 1, wherein an intake opening and an exhaust opening of the circulating air unit are provided in the first side wall of the baking chamber.
 3. Baking oven according to claim 2, wherein the intake opening and the exhaust opening are arranged offset from one another in the depth direction of the baking chamber.
 4. Baking oven according to claim 2, wherein the intake opening is arranged deeper in the baking chamber than the exhaust opening.
 5. Baking oven according to claim 1, wherein the circulating air unit has a flow channel and a fan wheel driven by the fan motor, the fan wheel being provided in the flow channel.
 6. Baking oven according to claim 5, wherein the flow channel extends with its longitudinal extension in the depth direction of the baking chamber.
 7. Baking oven according to claim 1, wherein the circulating air unit has a fan wheel, which is designed for radial intake and for axial exhaust of air.
 8. Baking oven according to claim 1, wherein the circulating air unit has a flow channel and a fan wheel driven by the fan motor, the fan wheel being provided in the flow channel, and wherein the circulating air unit has an intermediate wall, a circumferential wall portion projecting from the intermediate wall, by means of which the flow channel is delimited.
 9. Baking oven according to claim 8, wherein the intermediate wall is attached to the first side wall of the baking chamber in such a way that the intermediate wall with the circumferential wall portion and the first side wall of the baking chamber form the flow channel.
 10. Baking oven according to claim 8, wherein an insulating material layer is provided between the first side wall of the baking chamber and the intermediate wall.
 11. Baking oven according to claim 1, wherein the circulating air unit has a support wall to which the fan motor is attached.
 12. Baking oven according to claim 11, wherein the support wall is provided on the side of an intermediate wall facing away from the baking chamber.
 13. Baking oven according to claim 11, wherein an intermediate wall is arranged at a distance from the support wall and is fixed to the support wall.
 14. Baking oven according to claim 11, wherein an insulating material layer is provided between the support wall and an intermediate wall.
 15. Baking oven according to claim 1, wherein a circulating air control unit is provided to control the circulating air function of the baking oven, and wherein the circulating air control unit has a separate control board which is arranged separately from a main control board which performs control of other baking oven functions.
 16. Baking oven according claim 1, wherein a temperature sensor is arranged in the baking chamber, the temperature sensor being provided on a second side wall of the baking chamber facing the circulating air unit. 